One of the most important parts of enjoying a premier cigar lounge is embracing the entirety of the experience. The quality of the cigar, the mood, the overall vibe of the atmosphere, all these components are important parts of that experience; however, one of the most overlooked, and often underappreciated parts of the cigar experience, is “pairing”.
Some cigar enthusiasts enjoy pairing their cigars with their favorite soft drink, or a nice bourbon or whiskey. Others find something as simple as a bottle of water sufficient enough to pair their premium stick with. For those with a more refined palate or those looking to blend the benefits of another Great American relaxation pastime, we suggest coming to our cigar lounge and pairing your cigar with beer.
Beer, like cigars, is made with a very specific set of principles and standards to ensure the quality of their product. Craft beer brewers and premium cigar makers embrace artistry and take their time to craft the ultimate blend of flavors.
Many similar factors determine the outcome of both, including the type of plants used, the region and climate in which they are grown, and the fermentation process. Both master brewers and tobacco blenders work meticulously to manipulate the ingredients until they find the perfect blend to carry their branding.
The carbonated bubbles in the beer cleanse and refresh the palate, allowing you to experience the full tastes and aromas of both your cigar and your beer. Not to mention, it’s a great time to be a beer drinker. There are more than 25 million barrels of beer produced and sold annually with a multitude of great beers out there to fit anyone’s tastes. This gives any cigar enthusiast the unique opportunity to create and experience some pretty incredible opportunities for cigar and beer pairings.
Picking your Pairing
First, it’s important to understand that the perfect pairing is going to be highly subjective. Choosing the best flavor profile will be dependent upon your likes and dislikes as well as the sensitivity and advancement of your palate. Some might swear by one pairing, while others might not like it at all. It’s about experimenting with different combinations of flavors and finding ones that suit your taste. That’s part of the fun of it!
A good place to start is at our cigar lounge. We help you pick your pairing. But if you are at home, the best advice would be to match the basic characteristics of the cigar and the beer. For example, a light beer such as a lager or pilsner would work better with a milder cigar than it would with a stronger, more full-bodied one.
Likewise, a more intensely flavored cigar would work best with stronger beers such as stouts or ales. Falling in between the two, medium-bodied cigars would pair well with an IPA.
A good rule of thumb is to focus on the color. For the most part, a light-toned cigar wrapper, like a lightly colored beer, will be milder. A darker colored Maduro cigar wrapper will be more on the full-bodied side, like that of a darker beer.
Examples of Cigar and Beer Pairings:
1. Try pairing a mild cigar with a Pilsner.
Pilsner is a pale lager style beer, which has a mild flavor profile. A light brown Connecticut shade-grown wrapper provides a mild smoke. The mellowness of the cigar makes it an easy smoke alongside this delicious drinkable beer.
Some great cigars with Connecticut wrappers include Oliva Connecticut Reserve Robusto, Romeo y Julieta House of Capulet Toro, Perdomo Champagne Epicure, Macanudo Café Court Tubos, Hoyo Excalibur No. 1, Nub Connecticut 354, La Fontana Vintage Da Vinci, Alec Bradley Connecticut Robusto, Camacho Connecticut Robusto, Tabak Especial Dolce Robusto, and the Rocky Patel Vintage 1999.
Some great Pilsners include: Sixpoint the Crisp, Notch Session Pils, Firestone Walker Pivo, North Coast Scrimshaw, Victory Prima Pils, Half Acre Pony, Deschutes Pine Mountain, Avery Joe’s Pils, Schell’s Pilsner, and Heater Allen Pils.
Mix and match to find your favorite pair.
2. Try a medium-bodied cigar and a Pale Ale
Hoppy IPAs can overpower milder cigars and more full-bodied cigars can mask the subtle flavors in the ale. If you are an IPA drinker, then a medium-bodied cigar will be your best bet.
Some great medium-bodied cigars are: Romeo y Julieta Romeo No. 1 TUBOS, Aging Room Quattro F55 Concerto, H. Upmann Cameroon Certified Vintage, NUB 460 Habano, Davidoff Aniversario No. 2, Montecristo White, CAO La Traviata, Alec Bradley Black Market, Rodrigo Classico, Illusione 888, Tatuaje BlackLabel Petit Lancero, and the Gurkha 125th Anniversary XO.
Some top-rated Pale Ales include: Biscayne Bay Miami Pale Ale, Squatters Full Suspension Pale Ale, Grand Teton Sweetgrass APA, New Belgium Voodoo Ranger 8 Hop Pale ale, Prison City 4 Piece Pale Ale Simcoe, Boise Brewing Syringa Pale, Deep Ellum Brett Pale ale, Deschutes Red Chair NWPA, Odell Brewing Drumroll APA, Saranac American Pale Ale, Commonhouse ale works Park Circle Pale, Alaskan Big Mountain Pale Ale, Upslope Citra Pale Ale, Lagunitas Sumpin’ Easy Ale, Starr Hill Grateful Pale Ale, Ninkasi Pacific Rain Northwest Pale, Bootstrap Stick’s Pale Ale, and Bale Breaker Field 41 Pale Ale.
3. Try a full-bodied cigar with a Stout
A full-bodied cigar needs an equally strong companion, making the darkest beers, like a Stout or Porter, the perfect companion. A great choice for a full-bodied cigar will usually have a Maduro wrapper.
Some great full-bodied cigar options include: Arturo Fuente Añejo, La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero, Padron Family Reserve, Nub Maduro, Perdomo Champagne Noir, Java Mint, Gurkha Ghost, EP Carrillo Core Line, La Aroma De Cuba Mi Amor, CAO Flathead, Cohiba Black, Oliva Serie V Melanio, and the Gurkha Ninja.
Some sturdy Stouts to pair would include: Good People Coffee Oatmeal Stout, Midnight Sun Berserker, McFate Candy Bar Milk Stout, Ozark Bourbon Barrel Aged Double Cream Stout, Stone Xocoveza, Ratio Beerworks Barrel-Aged Genius Wizard, New England Imperial Stout Trooper, Dogfish Head Bitches Brew, Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout, Boise Brewing Black Cliffs, Abita Macchiato Espresso Milk Stout, Liquid Riot Albino Stout, and Uinta Labyrinth Black Ale.
Cigar and beer pairing is easy and makes for a great time in our comfortable cigar lounge. Come by today to enjoy a relaxing combination of great local beers and premium cigars.
